Partnering with the Laura Dester Children’s Center
This summer we were blessed with the opportunity to partner with the Laura Dester Children’s Center in Tulsa, enabling 12 campers to attend camp at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch. LDCC is a short-term emergency care facility for use while child welfare specialists conduct investigations into alleged abuse and neglect and to hold children while staff members look for suitable foster care placements for those coming into state custody.
A generous donor contacted SFR in early summer to create a scholarship fund for children staying at LDCC to be able to attend camp. Over a 2 week period 12 children aging from 10 to 18 experienced summer camp at SFR many never have been to any camp previously.
A few weeks after camp, we received a note from one of the Direct Care Staff at LDCC. She wrote, “The teens loved your camp. I know that life-changing decisions were made and the young people were given a glimpse of a different world. Just this week one boy said, ‘If I had a million dollars I would shut down Laura Dester and send everyone to a place like Shepherd’s Fold!’ ”
The staff members at Shepherd’s Fold were forever changed – these children who have people in and out of their lives more often than not, chose to open their hearts to us. It was humbling to watch the transformation of these campers – first coming into camp with defenses up, and leaving camp with a freedom that only the Lord can give. It was beautiful and we are greatly looking forward to seeing them again next summer!
If you have any questions about summer camp at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch, feel free to contact the office at 918-263-3622, or email the Camp Director at Hope@sfrcamps.com.